Bicycle-saddle



No. 608,857. Patented Aug. 9, I898. LE ROY M. HILDRETH.

BICYCLE SADDLE.

(Applicaiiion filed Oct. 18, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

T: norms warms co, we're-owe, WASHINGTON, o c

No. 608,857. Patented Aug. 9, I898. LE ROY M. HILDRETH.

BICYCLE SADDLE.

(Application filed Oct. 18, 1897.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

m: NoRms warns co. pnowoun ou WASHYNGTON. n. c.

mitt: tans LE ROY M. HILDRETII, NEW'HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

BICYCLE-SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 608,857, dated August 9, 1898.

Application filed October 18, 1897. Serial No. 655,504. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LE ROY M. HILDRETH, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Bicycle-Saddles; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the'accompanying drawings and the letters of referencemarked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1, a side View of a saddle embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a top View of the same; Fig. 3, a sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a sectional view on line 4 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a sectional view on line 5 5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6, a sectional view of the, ad justing mechanism for the equalizing-lever, enlarged.

This invention relates to an improvement in bicycle-saddles, and particularly to that class in which an inflatable tube or pad is em ployed as a cushion and which are commonly called pneumatic saddles, the object of the invention being to produce a saddle upon which the person is supported over a chamber of confined air, so that not only the cushion formed by the tubes is utilized, but also a space between the tubes. Another object is to form a saddle of such construction that a person may retain his position thereon without the use of a pommel.

lViththese ends in View the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in the claims.

The saddle will be preferably in the form of two circles side by side and connected together and so that the saddle is about twice as wide as it is long and will consist of a base A, of wood, metal, or other suitable material, corresponding in shape to the form of the saddle. This plate will be provided with the usual clamp B for attachment to the saddle-post. Upon this base will be placed a tube C, which extends around the outer edge of the said base and is provided with a filling-tube C, which projects through the base A. Over this tube at each end is placed a semiring-shaped block D or D, of wood or other suitable material, and upon these blocks is located a sec- 0nd tube E, corresponding to the tube C and extending entirely around the saddle. This the escape of air.

tube is also provided with a filling-tube E, which also projects through the base A. Over these tubes is stretched a covering F,of leather or'other suitable material, and firmly fixed to the base A, so as to form an air-tight joint therewith. The central portion of the upper surface of this covering is perforated. Preferably the base A is provided with one or more inlet-,valves,'which may consist of cups I through the plug and escape through the openings h, but seat upon the top of the plug to prevent the escape of air downward through them. It will be understood that the openings in the base around the filling-tubes C E will each be filled by a packing O to prevent A person sitting on the saddle will close the perforations in the top thereof and by the compression of the tubes C E and his Weight compress the air inclosed by the. tubes and cover and so as to form a complete air-cushion. If in rough riding a part of the air in the cushion is expelled through the perforations, that air will be re placed the instant the weight of the rider is partly removed from the saddle by air entering through the valves in the base, and so that in ordinary riding a constant circulation of air through the saddle is secured.

The primary object of the block is to form a support for the upper member or tube, which would otherwise settle down and around the lower tube, and they are particularly necessary in case both tubes are not inflated equallyas, for instance, if the upper tube is harder than the under tube it would sink into it, and vice versa. The blocks also distribute the pressure over a greater area, and hence greater pneumatic effect is attained.

In some cases it may be desirable to provide an equalizer between the two blocks D D, and so that if one is depressed the other will be raised, so as to prevent the rider slipping olf the forward edge of the saddle. To accomplish this, I pivot a bowed lever K in a transverse bearing L, which may be secured directly to the base A or swiveled to the up S per end of a bolt M, passing upward through the base, so that the bearing may be adjusted vertically. The lever is adapted to rock in the said bearing, and its ends K K extend upward beneath the blocks D D, which may be formed with wings D D in line with the end K K of the said lever, and so that when the block D is depressed it strikes the arm K and rocks the lever, thereby moving the arm K upward against the under face of the block D, so as to support that block in its up position. The said arms K K normally stand slightly below the under faces of the said blocks, so that the blocks have a limited amount of independent movement.- To retain the arms K K of the lever in proper position under the blocks or its wings, I provide the under surfaces of the said blocks or wings with downwardly-extending flanges D D between which the ends extend, so as to prevent lateral displacement. For convenience in assembling and for strength the tube may be formed at its outer edges with a flap c for attachment to the edge of the base and the tube E with a flap e for attachment to the edges of the blocks D D and so that they will be rigidly held in position. If desired, the two tubes may be connected at the center, so that one inflating-tube only will be required, although I prefer to employ two independently arranged tubes, as with two tubes they may be inflated to different degrees of pressure, according to the degree of firmness desired by the rider.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A bicycle-saddle comprising a base and two inflatable tubes superposed thereon, and

one above the other, of semiringshaped blocks arranged between the adjacent surfaces of said tubes at the sides of the saddle, and a covering inclosing said tubes and blocks, substantially as described.

2. A bicycle-saddle comprising a base provided with an inlet valve, two inflatable tubes superposed upon said base and one above the other, se'miring-shaped blocks located between said tubes at the sides of said saddles, and a covering inclosing said tubes and blocks, substantially as described.

3. A bicycle-saddle comprising a base, two inflatable tubes superposed upon said base and one above the other, semiring-shaped blocks located between said tubes at the sides of said saddles, and an equalizing-lever fulcrumed on said base and extending upward for engagement with the respective ends of said blocks, substantially as described.

4:. A vbicycle-saddle comprising a base and two inflatable tubes superposed thereon, and one above the other, of semiring shaped blocks arranged between the adjacent surfaces of said tubes at the sides of the saddle, said tubes formed with flaps at their edges whereby they may be secured to the base and blocks, and a covering inclosing said tubes and blocks, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LE ROY M. HILDRETH.

Witnesses:

FRED C. EARLE, LILLIAN D. KELsEY. 

